BlogHer '10: It Is All Love

I have to start this post with an amazing shout out to my wonderful sister who made BlogHer happen for me.  Without her, I wouldn't have gone.  She took care of Michael, and even when things got well, difficult, and I was going to come home and take care of the problem, or at least take the problem out of her hands, she wouldn't let me.  So, thank you, so much.

Last year BlogHer was hard for me.  In a lot of ways.  And it took me to go through this years BlogHer to figure it out.  I had too high of expectations of me and the experience.  This year, before I left I promised myself two things.  No drama.  And say no.  You can't be all things to all people.  And if you see or experience drama, walk away.  And I, thankfully, did both.

I was so impressed by both BlogHer the organization and the Hilton.  This years BlogHer was huge, and was flawlessly run.  And the people at the Hilton can run a hotel.  I watched them turn the ballroom over for Sparklecorn in 45 minutes.  And it was amazing.

BlogHer, for me, was about fun.  And friends.  And love.  The DC Moms and the MamaPop writers truly are my online family.  When I have my I cannot blog any more moments (and I do, don't we all?) they bring me back and keep me going.  As I sit here, 12 hours later, my feet still hurt from dancing at Sparklecorn.

But I also learned.  Blogging is writing, and Rita Arens chaired a panel on writing and stroking your creativity and I would watch her read the phone book.  She was on my favorite panel last year as well.  I left that session inspired to be a better blogger and a better writer.  The resource blogging panel made me want to be a resource blogger and the radical blogging panel made me want to be a radical blogger.  Can shoes be radical and a resource?  We must figure this out!

The best parts of BlogHer are connecting with the people that you talk to online.  And I had that fangirl moment.  The moment when you are like, will the "big blogger" know who I am if I walk over and introduce myself and tell them I love them?  But I knew if I did not say hi I would kick myself.  And Loralee was lovely and gracious and so, so nice.

And Kristen, and Tina, and Liz (and no, I do not want to talk about the dance off thank you very little), and Jennie, and Jonna, and Jill, and Kim, and Issa, and Grace, and Colleen, and Maggie, and Maria, and Isabel, and Melissa, and Kelly,  the people who I email and twitter with and love, love, love.  And hugging felt like home.   

And the swag.  Yes, there was swag.  My swag was minuscule compared to others, who private party hopped.  And I said "no thank you" a lot.  And used the swag exchange.  But the things I liked the most were the band aids for the blisters and the clorox wipes for the spills.  Cheap, silly, but ohmyg-d did I need them both.

At the radical blogging panel Stephanie Roberts spoke of the places she had been where people have very little.  And how through them, she has learned to re-examine her relationship with stuff.  I'm pretty sure I don't need a Jimmy Dean clock or Kodak note pad, and I was glad that the Swag Exchange was there to donate it to, instead of just being abandoned in my hotel room like last year.  I felt the swag was less and the greed was better this year.  But I unapologetically love shoes.  And my jewelry.

My heroes.  For this weekend:

WhyMommy: Friday.  Sunday.  Always.  My favorite memory will always be when she realized the DCmoms where in front, cheering for her, knowing that she could do it, even when she did not think so.  She was, and always will be, my greatest blogging inspiration.

Jessica: That girl can lead a panel like no one else.  And because she knows that sometimes "I'm sorry" really just means, "I'm sorry."

And, kind of like when you just had a baby, everyone keeps asking you when the next one is coming, I got asked a lot if I would be attending BlogHer 11.  And right now, I think the answer is no.  San Diego is not an option for me.  It is again, a bad weekend, and I'm not sure hoisting Michel on my sister again is such a good idea. 

Plus, I'm thinking mom2.0 is in the cards for me and I'm trying to convince Jennie and Jonna to go with me.

But who knows?  I didn't think I was going to BlogHer this year either.  I will be oh so sad about missing the third incarnation of Sparklecorn.  Which rocks my socks off every year.  And the MamaPop writers dinner, which was by far, the most I had laughed in a very, very long time.

I will leave this long, rambling post, because at this point I'm pretty sure I have been up for 36 hours straight. The lovely and wise Isabel and I had a conversation last night and discussed that nice and gracious, in the blogosphere, and in life, can get you far.  Every time I have attempted to be snarky or engage in conflict it has bitten me in the ass.  And I'm happy to say that I left NYC with a smile on my face, with a spring in my step, very tired, and a new found commitment to my writing here, and my writing other places.

And ask Lindsay about her car keys.  But that is a story for another day.   

 

 

   

Comments

[samantha]

It was so great to see you. xo

[Maria]

So glad we got to see each other a few times. And I feel the same way as far as this year going so much better than last year. (On a personal level.)

[Redneck Mommy]

So very, very, VERY glad you had a blast. Made me sitting at home that much easier to swallow. xo

[Miss Grace]

Was so lovely seeing you, and I'm so glad you were able to come.
I hope Michael's doing well.

[flutter]

sounds like you had a good time, well deserved.

[Rock and Roll Mama]

You are so right about how your choices curate the experience- it can be an exhausting private party hop when you're on other's time, or it can be a free flow where you choose to see where the blogher-wave takes you. I had an absolute blast- mostly because of the random happenstance moments that you never could have planned for.

And of course, because I started off the journey with you and Jeanine, two of the first bloggers I met n real life. :) Thanks for being a great example to follow. xoxo, L
PS *Note to Jodifur readers- I discovered while on the train that shipped my keys. I knew I should have paid for 2 day!

[Maggie, dammit]

So good to finally meet you! Totally agree about nice and gracious.

[Sue @ Laundry for Six]

I love this wrap up post! And Isabel is a wise woman. As are you. I had a great time - I went into it with pretty much no expectations. There are things I would do again and things I would do differently, but overall, it was fabulous. And I would also love to go to Mom 2.0, although I have to wait until my husband's PTSD has resolved to bring it up.

[Isabel @AlphaMom]

Jodi,

I too was beyond impressed by the Hilton and Blogher for their organizational skills particularly when push came to shove during the set-up of the Sparklecorn and CheeseburgHer parties. They made it work. It's during stressful times like those when you can really see the best come out in folks (you hope).

I'm so happy to hear that you had a great BlogHer!

And, yes like we discussed nice and gracious are underrated.

Hugs,
Isabel

[Scary Mommy]

I loved, loved BlogHer this year. And, I am totally thinking Mom 2.0. Let's do it!! xoxoxo

[Kristabella]

I am SO, SO, SO glad we ran into each other in Starbucks! It was nice to see you and say hello in a non-conference spot!

[cagey (kelli oliver george)]

I am so glad we were able to hang out - the quiet moments are the ones where true friendships are forged. Certainly not in the Expo Center!

And also, I would really like to get the word out that the sessions this year at BlogHer ROCKED.

[Stimey]

Great post. BlogHer was amazing for me this year too. I can't even quite process it all yet.

My ass muscles hurt from dancing. I blame Sparklecorn.

[sweetney]

"The lovely and wise Isabel and I had a conversation last night and discussed that nice and gracious, in the blogosphere, and in life, can get you far." Isabel is a goddess. Words to live by.

[Rita Arens]

I can't say enough time how much it means to me that you enjoyed my panel. It was so good to get a chance to talk to you for a little bit -- wish it was longer!

I definitely came home with less stuff this year -- I think I might be over anything my kid doesn't want.

[heather]

It was my pleasure to watch Michael. We had a blast. Mitch and Michael had such a great time being together. It was priceless to have those moments with them.

[Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama]

I think you could write a resource blog about rad shoes. That might count, right? I loved spending time with you and am glad we don't need to be in San Diego to do!

[Gray Matter Matters]

Ironically, YOU are one of the "big" bloggers that I most regretted not meeting. Although I can't be sure that I didn't grope you on the dance floor.
BlogHer was great this year, everyone who was involved in it's planning totally rock!

[Whymommy]

Really? Thank you!

Even when I was passing out on the train on Sunday, I could hear your voice, and Stimey protecting me, and Amy cooling me with her own water bottle, and i was so, so grateful for our DC Moms. Worth it. Worth it.

[C.Mom]

Yes, yes, and yes. I had not heard of Mom 2.0---need to check that out. Oh and for the record--I agree with Leticia, you are absolutely one of the big bloggers :)

[Issa]

No drama. Say no. And make it what you want it to be. Those are going to be my only tips for people next year. Ha. I had an absolute blast and I am so thrilled that I got to meet you.

Next year is a whole year away. So I will accept no as your final answer. In this moment. Ha. I do get it though. Completely.

[Pocklock]

Even though I only got to see you for 3-seconds, I'm so glad I go to hug you and say hi.

I'm thinking San Diego is out for me. I wanted to do Type-A MomCon, but that's too close to my due date so it's looking like Mom 2.0 for me as my 2011 blogging conference!

[Haley-O (Cheaty)]

Love this line: "You can't be all things to all people." I so struggled with that -- trying to be ON the whole time, even though I really needed to go to my room and hide for a bit! ;)

LOVED seeing you at blogher, as you know! Love this recap.... Beautiful.

[Mike Thomas]

Jodifer,

I am writing to ask for your permission to include your posts on
DCguide.com and include a link to your blog in our directory. We would
include a link back to your blog fully crediting you for your work
along with a profile about you listed on DCguide.com . Please let us
know as soon as possible.

Mike@dcguide.com

Mike Thomas
Editor-in-Chief
DCguide.com

[Superjules]

It was lovely to meet you!!

[jane (this week for dinner)]

so glad you got those bandaids! :) and glad you could make it to Socialluxe....and glad that BlogHer was such a better experience for you this year....sounds like it was downright perfect. amazing, how setting expectations can make all the difference.

[Jessica McFadden - A Parent in Silver Spring]

No, I"M SORRY.

I took the same no drama pledge but lost my comedic timing!! It's hard to be funny AND do the Safety Dance braless. The things that Sparklecorn will inspire in us...thank goodness it's only once a year, but already dreaming of 2011.

Like you, I'm SO DAMN GLAD I went this year. 2008 I was all "memh" and this year I totes drank the Kool-Aid and wanted to make out with everyone.

ESPECIALLY you.

[Colleen]

I can honestly say that getting to meet you in person was a highlight of BlogHer. I feel a little silly saying that... but all of my highpoints involved meeting down-to-earth, every-day, "normal" people. People who made me feel like I made the right decision in running off to BlogHer!

I don't know how I missed out on the band-aids... but I sure could have used them!!! I even packed some but used them all up.

One day... I will put up a BlogHer post.
: )